Soon, you can buy Wi-Fi data vouchers from street vendors starting at Rs 10

Trai estimated that cost per megabyte in Wi-Fi network could be less than Rs 2 paise

Are you limiting your data usage due to high-cost Wi-Fi connection? Your local street vendors can come to your aid soon. According to a report in Economic Times, data consumer can soon purchase W-Fi powered data packs from kirana shops at denominations as low as Rs 10. 

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has recommended lowering of import duty on Wi-Fi equipment with the introduction of ‘public data offices’ (PDO) and aggregators providing public Wi-Fi services under Rs 50,000.

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) has developed a service where the street vendors will be provided with a licence free ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) band.

“The concept of Digital India is not prevalent in every nook and corner. However, with PDO, enable even the lawallah to sell Wi-Fi-based broadband services anywhere for as low as Rs 10 or even less,” C-DoT's Executive Director Vipin Tyagi told The Economic Times. 

Along with an organised billing system, the electronically powered device will offer a Wi-Fi access point with e-KYC (know your customer), OTP (one-time password) authentication and voucher packs. 

The C-DoT will transfer the PDO technology to 20 manufacturing partners, including Bharat Heavy Electricals Himachal Futuristic Communications for commercial production of the devices, the report added. 

The small retailers can use free-to-use frequency available in 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) and 5.8 GHz bandwidth. This will enable users o access radio spectrum without any restriction or interference from regulatory bodies. 

Even Virtual Network Operator (VNOs) can join hands with multiple network service operators for providing such service.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) told PTI such measures will not only increase the number of public hotspots but make internet services more affordable in the country.

The regulator had estimated that cost per megabyte in Wi-Fi network could be less than Rs 2 paise while consumers on average are paying around 23 paise for the data usage in the cellular networks like 2G, 3G and 4G. 

This will also encourage village-level entrepreneurship and provide strong employment opportunities, especially in rural areas.